Fibrinolytic activity of renal transplants in rabbits relation to graft thrombosis and necrosis.

Abstract

The fibrinolytic activity of renal transplants in rabbits was studied by the fibrin slide technique, a histochemical substrate‐film method for the demonstration of tissue activator of plasminogen. Biopsy and graftectomy specimens from seven autografts, four allografts, and eight allografts from recipients presentized against the donor kidneys, were studied. The findings were semiquantitated and compared with the presence of graft thrombosis and necrosis. All the grafts demonstrating a decrease in fibrinolytic activity after transplantation developed thrombosis and cortical necrosis; and all the grafts showing thrombosis and necrosis had decreased fibrinolytic activity. Only one case with focal cortical necrosis in the graft without any thrombi had no decrease in fibrinolytic activity of the graft. The decrease in fibrinolytic activity seemed to precede the occurrence of thrombosis and necrosis.